Readers explain why they love Jacksonville

Thanksgiving weekend is a perfect time to roll out another installment from our readers on why they love Jacksonville.

Members of our Email Interactive Group have been offering their reasons all year.

We plan to keep this going.

The JAX Chamber has been leading the charge to combat a lingering case of poor self-esteem. But some of our readers haven’t caught the bug.

A LIST OF GREATS

Jacksonville is a great city to live, retire and take it easy. I have been living in Jacksonville for more then 20 years. I love it and I am proud of it.

Roop L. Khirsukhani, Jacksonville

LOVE THE WATER

Water, water everywhere — enough for sailing, skiing, fishing. And you can relax nearby while sipping a lemonade. We fled the landlocked Midwest because of the abundance of water we saw on a map of Jacksonville.

Bonnie McCullar, Orange Park

A LARGE, FAMILY-ORIENTED CITY

Jacksonville is more like South Georgia, a family city but with the perks of a big city. We are not like the rest of Florida. Tampa, Orlando and Miami are typical Florida.

B.A Grubbs, Jacksonville

A TOP TEN LIST

1. The weather — just right.

2. The beaches — not overcrowded.

3. The parks — beautiful trails, beach access, and marshes.

4. The airport — one terminal, not overcrowded, with good flight options.

5. The traffic — easy city to get into and out of for entertainment events.

6. Sports and entertainment — as good as New York City at half the price.

7. The people — a good mix.

8. Tennis, golf, bicycling — all available to use with the good weather and on flat land.

9. Attractive for guests — grown children with grandchildren will want to visit for their vacation with you.

10. Wonderful nearby historical/beach towns to visit — St. Augustine on the south and Fernandina Beach on the north. Jacksonville is my city, Fernandina Beach is my town and Amelia is my island.

Love them all, but together they really make this a great place to live.

Phillip M. Scanlan, Amelia Island

PEOPLE ARE PROUD HERE

In my opinion, the people of Jacksonville are inherently proud of their city. While many complain about this or that, just say something negative about Jax and they defend it to the max.

Gas is a little high right now but on Jacksonville Beach everything is pretty close and only a short, inexpensive drive.

We have great transportation — highways, airport and cruise port, ferry, forts within a short ride, zoo and many other great things but especially the beautiful, great sunsets and sunrises.

Toni VanOrman, Jacksonville Beach

A HIDDEN GEM

I don’t think Jacksonville is recognized for the great city that it is. And one great aspect is that people keep trying to make it better. It should get more credit for being one of the premier cities of the South.

It offers a great range of activities for people. The theaters do a fine job of bringing events to the area.

The people of Jacksonville are friendly and helpful.

I hear people always praising Charlotte, and Jacksonville should certainly receive as much praise. The quality of the city is basically in its people. The tone and integrity starts at the top and should work down through the pride that every city employee demonstrates so they can — no matter what job — say it’s a great place to live and work in.

Maynard Taylor, Fernandina Beach

A MEANINGFUL LIST

I always brag about having a couple of great art museums, a beach, some excellent restaurants, a world class public library, several colleges/universities, lots of history (locally and in the surrounding areas), an excellent symphony, several very good shopping opportunities, gobs of golf courses, very good health care institutions, lots of natural beauty.

Jodi Hunter, Jacksonville

PUBLIC GOLF IS FIRST RATE

Cost of living is moderate; weather is temperate; lots to do outdoors on the water (boating, fishing, surfing, etc.).

Nice beaches; golf to the maximum — I don’t know of anywhere in the country where there are so many excellent public courses that are so reasonably priced.

Downtown itself, though, is not yet near its potential (think Inner Harbor in Baltimore).

It combines the big city with a small town atmosphere; it’s the South!

It’s a big change from the “Bold New City of The South” of 20 years ago.

Scott Semko, Ponte Vedra Beach

FELL IN LOVE WITH THE BEACH

I am a native Arkansan whose mother was raised in Florida. My first trip to Jacksonville came by train from Memphis.

Our grandfather picked us up at the train station. Before leaving for Frostproof, we went to Jacksonville Beach.

When I saw the Atlantic Ocean, it was as if I had come home to the sea! It was the Atlantic I loved and was mesmerized by, and I always knew I would live here!